Kindergarten science

[LadyAberlin]

I will be starting kindergarten with my son next Jan. He turns 5 in Dec. I want to start Apologia in 1st grade, so I don't want to do that just yet. We are doing Living Learning Books Level 1 right now and loving it. I am looking at about 4 different programs and would like thoughts on them.

Winterpromise - The World around me We really like to read and I'm not sure that there are enough reading type books in this.

RS4K pre level 1 - I really like the looks of this but it is so expensive. Is it worth it?

Noeo Science Level 1 - I like the looks of them but I am concerned that the Chemistry and the Physics might be too difficult for a 5 yr old. The Biology, I like the looks of, but I'm wondering if it would be too much of a repeat from this year. Weather, Bacteria, fungi, and habitats would be new. The only book that they use that we are using this year already is the Science with plants.

So talk me into something please. I know I'm planning way ahead, but I need to save up for it.

Thanks in advance :001_smile:

[WendyK]

I used Earlybird Science (singaporemath.com). It was inexpensive and easy to use. We didn't write in the books and I am saving them for my second son.
My oldest son really enjoyed them. We bought a few kits from the Young Scientist Club as well.

[Pata]

This year for kindergarten, we first tried Singapore's Earlybird and it didn't go well. So, we went through Harcourt's first grade textbook, very gentle and easy, but it didn't take us all year so we started with my biology plans. You can check them out on my blog, the link is in my siggy. Just thought I'd share out experience!:D

[Ravin]

We're doing science via library books on topics DD asks about, trips to the Arizona Science Center and Phoenix Zoo (where we have memberships), and gardening/nature study. Also we watch shows like How It's Made, Mythbusters, Bindi the Jungle Girl, and National Geographic Explorer. We recently bought a magnet set and we'll likely do more with those in the near future. When we're walking along and DD asks questions, I try to give her detailed answers (or we'll go look things up at the library or online).

For me the important things about science DD need to know are about the process of the scientific method, and some understanding of major scientific theories. Grammar stage is for curiosity, exploration, and hands-on activities.

[Lizzie in Ma]

My dd had fun with the Christian Light Education Science 100, she is a science freak and was already a strong reader.

She also loved and still watches her "Discover and Do" Experiment dvds from Sonlight and we have done all the experiments ourselves also. (We got the next level for this year)

We also read aloud a couple of the Clara D. Pearson books, Among the Forest People and Among the Meadow People. We are still reading her books through 1st as well.

Honestly, had she not specifically asked, I would have just read the books. :)

[SBP]

In Kindergarten, you can have lots of fun just following your child's interests using library books, field trips, nature study, etc. If you want to do some experiments at home and have them all planned out for you, it looks like Delta Education, the company that sells the Science in a Nutshell kits, also has some kits for younger children (http://www.deltaeducation.com/productgallery.aspx?subID=1&menuID=16). I haven't used them, but I know kits like that help me get experiments done!

Also, my kids have loved things like having an ant farm and growing butterflies and tadpoles - I can't remember which company it is that sells all those things, but when Grandma asks what your son wants for his birthday, those are great answers!

Usborne has lots of great science materials for younger children, and you could pick and choose among them, investing in a few that particularly fit your child's interests.

I know I haven't answered your question about the specific curricula you're considering. I haven't used any of them, but I've bought RS4K Chemistry I to use with my 5th graders next year and think it looks excellent. However, if my kids were five, I'd rather use that money on fun hands-on projects and on field trips. Just my .02.

Good luck, and I hope you and your son have a fun year, whatever you decide :).

SBP

[LadyAberlin]

Thanks for all your replies :) I think I'm going to go with Living Learning Books level 2. I didn't realize that I could use it with a kindergartener until last night. I like LLB level 1 because it is laid back and informal. I request each week's library books from the library and we do the suggested experiments. we are really enjoying that. I am also right now doing science is simple along with it. So we have been playing with magnet kits, we just released our butterflies yesterday from our butterfly garden and we are about to send off for our praying mantis egg case. I know people don't usually do formal school at this age, but my son requests it and even after we have done school for a couple of hours he is still begging for more.

What was the CLE science like? I keep looking at it but it doesn't tell you much.

Thanks,
Heather

[Josie]

For K all you need to do is read library books, go for nature walks, and talk about science with your child. Let your child play with Legos and you have physics! Really, absolutely no program is needed.

[Karen in CO]

For K all you need to do is read library books, go for nature walks, and talk about science with your child. Let your child play with Legos and you have physics! Really, absolutely no program is needed.

A zoo membership a library card and some toys are really all you need for K science. Wedgits, a ball drop toy set, legos, a garden or a window garden, a collection of rocks, maybe a butterfly kit for spring. For the grammar stage, I really think that hands-on science really gives the child a wealth of concrete experiences to build later scientific knowledge on. Hands-on and delight-driven are perfect for this age.

[ArwenA]

In K we just explorer and read, no curriculum needed.:)

[strider]

There is honestly no need at all to go heavy with science at this age, though you may find it enjoyable to study science together.

I loved Sonlight's science program at this age because my kids really enjoyed the Usborne books. It felt like reading stories together, and it was fascinating.

A cheaper option that is just as good for this age would be to buy an Usborne Children's Encyclopedia and just progressively read through it together.

[Sahamamama]

For the youngest learners, we wouldn't go with either (1) a full-blown science curriculum or (2) a hit-or-miss approach (because we are more likely to miss than we are to hit). :001_huh:

So, I suppose this is a new question, but it fits in here:

What do you all use if you are somewhere in the middle with science for the early grades? How do you create some structure (as in, this quarter we are studying invertebrates), without having to lay out or purchase a day-to-day curriculum? How do you plan out the overall goals, then add the text/living books resources, then add in the hands-on and field trips, then work it all out in real life with early years learners?

So far, we have decided this year to study Animals (yes, all year, that will be the focus). This doesn't mean that if something else comes up (say, the tomatoes in Pop Pop's garden) we won't investigate it. But, for us, we like the WTM idea of having a "theme" for the year -- this year it's Animals (call it Life Science, Part 1).

We read from The First Animal Encyclopedia, many other books (on each category/animal), watch some DVDs (from time to time), dig up worms, etc. I'm trying to think of more (inexpensive) hands-on for animals. We do plan to get a zoo pass in a month or so. We could also visit the aquarium, if it fits into the budget.

How do you all create SOME structure for science, without having to follow a daily guide or just floating along with whatever turns up?

I'm all ears. :bigear:

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Skip the programs. Instead,
-Plant seeds and see how they grow.
-Mix various batters and doughs, and see how they bake.
-Go for walks and collect things, then sort them into basic categories.
-Go to museums, and zoos, and botanical gardens.
-Make some ramps of different heights, and roll marbles and various balls down them.
-Get some magnets, and play with metal objects (different metals, different shapes and sizes).
-Get a book that gives recipes for different kinds of goo, make some goo, then play with it.
-Check out lots of books about lots of interesting things from the library, then sit in the middle of your bed, and surround yourselves with them.

Kindergarten is fun! Enjoy yourself, and your little one. He'll get old soon enough. There will be plenty of time for "boring" textbooks then. :)

Have fun.

[Hillcrest Academy]

I highly recommend Janice VanCleave's "Science Around the Year" for K (and beyond). There are seasonally based themes and experiments which are very easy to execute at home.

[LadyAberlin]

Thank you for your replies. I know most people don't use a science curriculum in K, but I need something for a guide. I very much dislike textbooks so we don't do that. I do have a curriculum for prek that I use. I use a combo of living learning books level 1 and Science is simple. Neither of them plan things day to day. They have topics and give a list of picture books and videos and experiments that can be done. I like it because it has made me have butterfly gardens and praying mantis' eggs and rock kits and planting gardens. We play with magnets. We check out 40 books a week from the library and my ds4 still wants more. We are very much enjoying ourselves. So I was just looking for something that will give us the same experience we had this year. I did find it. LLB level 2 can be used in kindergarten and so next year we will study weather, volcanoes, earthquakes, astronauts etc. It is all very informal. I would love to go to the zoo, but it is really difficult to get to and it is already almost to hot to go. In about a month or so the Animals won't be out because it will be too hot. I don't expect formal textbook stuff. RS4K was the only textbook that I was considering because the sample pgs looked more lighthearted. But when I realized how much it was going to cost I changed my mind. I liked the looks of Wp and noeo because of all the books that I thought we might like to read, but I think that LLB has more selections for younger kids. I was homeschooled and I'm a strong believer in doing what is right for each child. If a young child wants to do school then do it. If they don't want to then don't. My son requests to do school day in day out. We will have spent several hours on school and I say we are done and he begs for more. I think he is just unusual. I have a 19 month old ds too. We shall see if he is like his brother. I started using Hands on homeschooling curriculum age 2 when ds4 was about 21 months old. He could barely talk but I would pull out the manual and he would run through the house yelling "Yay school!" Then when around 22 months he came into the room where I was one evening and said "School?" He was holding my manual that was about as big as he was. It was so cute. He has always loved school. Every once in a while he'll get tired of it and so we will take a break for a couple of weeks and then he'll come back full steam ahead. So I just watch him to see what we need to do. Thank you for all you concerns.
Heather